Iron fence



(No Model.)

G. W. MQUANN.

. IRON FENCE.

Patented Apr. 14, 1885.

In venfar/ ML 60/14/14) UNiTEn drarns rarer omen" GEORGE W. menus, or SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

IRON teno s.

BPECIPIQATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 315.6 28, dated April 14, 1885.

Application filed Juno 3, 188-1. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE V. MGCANN,

of Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented a new and use i'ul Improvement in Iron Fences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and accurate description of the same.

This improvement relates to that class of fences wherein the body or picket portion is constructed of cast-iron or other suitable cast metal.

Eeretofore fences of this description have been designed and constructed with reference to the attachment of the picket to continuous stringers or rails, which are independently supported by posts set in the ground, and thereby constitute a primary or foundation structure for the fence proper, which is composed of pickets subsequently attached to and supported by the posts and. stringers or rails above mentioned. They have also been constructed with overlapping or with interlocking parts,which are required to be held and secured together by bolts or pickets acting as keys.

The object of my invention is to dispense with this preliminary structure of posts and stringers or rails, and especially to dispense with the separate rails, and to construct my sections with mutually interlocking parts which do not depend for integrity upon keys or screw-bolts.

To that end my invention consists in a fence section or picket provided on one edge with one or more lateral arms or extensions and on the other edge with a like number of sockets or suitable provisions for receiving such an arm or extension from the adjacent picket or section, so that when several such pickets or extensions are placed in relation to each other, the arms of one in the sockets of the adjoining one, and'secured there by pins, pivots, or screws, the union and mutual support of a rail is secured without the cost and labor attending the placing of the rail and attachment of the pickets thereto.

That others may understand my invention, I will particularly describe it, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in whi ch- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved fence, one section being detached.

1 Fig. 2 is an elevation of the top of one section modified. Fig. 3 is a perspective showing the structure of corner sections. Fig. 4 is an elevation showing structure of one loop.

It willbe understood thatthe design or particular arrangement of the members of my fence pickets or sections may be varied to suit the fancy of the user, or to adapt it to some particular location, without departing from the principle of my invention.

A represents a picket or section, which, for convenienced will describe as being cast co m- .plete in a single piece, though, as will appear, it may be constructed in several pieces and of different materials without in any way changing the invention except in the matter of expense. The picket A is provided with the lateral arms or extensions 6, the same being straight bars with parallel sides, and at the opposite edges the picket is provided with sockets adapted to receive bars similar to Z2. These sockets are most conveniently formed by means of bars depressed behind the general plane of the picket, so as to form loops behind the arm b, while it is confined on the other side by the body of the picket. This structure is shown in Figs. 1 and 4, where A designates the body of the picket and d the loopbar. The loop-bar passes in the rear of an opening in the face of the picket, and therefore may be molded and cast without difficulty. A

W'hen, as shown in the drawings, the arm b is sufficiently long to pass two of the loop-bars cl,it receives a very strong and rigid support. I find it convenient to provide a central support for a screw, rivet, or pin, 9, which passes through both body A and arm I; and fastens the sections together. Thus in constructing a fence with these sections the first section is fastened to a post,and the height and horizontal inclination of the fence determined. Afterward sections are successively added and secured by inserting the arms of one into the sock ets of the other and fastening them there by the pins or screws 9, supporting them from time to time by foot-posts or other means of connecting with the ground. A convenient way is to bolt a bar of iron, P, to the inner side of the fence by means of bolts 9, and extend the lower end of said bar into the ground or to a foot-post, Q, of stone or other material. For turning corners, pickets or sections are pr0- vided with the arms I; at right angles to the general plane of the picket, as shown in Fig. 3.

If for any reason it is desirable, the picket may be constructed in several pieces and of different materialsas, for instance, the end or socket portions may be of cast-iron, and the central portion,e,and the arms b may be separately made and severally attached by rivets or screws.

In the drawings the two ends-of the picket are alike; but they may be made different in form, yet so that either may serve for the upper end.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. A railless fence composed of pickets, each provided with laterally-proj eetin g arms on one side and sockets on the other, the several arms and sockets interlocking with each other and secured against withdrawal by bolts 9, as set forth. 

